Associate Director, Vendor Strategy and Relationships

Role Summary

Associate Director, Vendor Strategy and Relationships drives strategic and enterprise-wide vendor relationships for Development, overseeing complex, cross-functional operations and vendor management across global functions. They manage the category portfolio, align sourcing strategies with business goals, and implement processes to deliver efficient, high-impact vendor relationships. They stay informed on industry practices, technologies, regulations, and innovate to achieve efficiencies.

Responsibilities

• Accountable for strategic vendor management oversight driving global, complex, cross-functional operational and relationship aspects of vendor relationships for Development.
• Drives agendas and leads operational and executive governance meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
• Serve as subject matter expert and single point of contact between vendor and the business function to promote accountability, mitigate risks, and deliver operational efficiencies aligned with the relationship strategy.
• Effectively communicates progress and concerns; identifies issues/risks that may impact projects, systems, or processes and implements solutions.
• Understands internal and external business environments; establishes vendor performance measures; drives vendor performance aligned with strategic objectives, deliverables, and accountabilities.
• Trends performance and resource gaps in outsourced services and leads cross-functional teams to implement corrective actions based on best practices.
• Establishes vendor strategy and leads cross-functional teams to develop and maintain successful vendor relationships supporting Development’s objectives.
• Leads collaborations with business stakeholders and vendors to identify and implement efficient, high-quality, compliant processes focused on continuous improvement and innovation.
• Resolves escalated issues and escalates significant issues to senior leadership and vendor.
• Leads cross-functional complex projects and initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or ex-US equivalent) in a relevant field such as business economics, science or health administration; Master preferred.
• 10+ years of clinical development experience in pharmaceutical/healthcare regulated industry; including 5+ years managing global third-party vendors.
• Demonstrates a high level of core, technical, and leadership competencies.
• Critical thinker with the ability to see the “big picture” to drive long-term vendor strategy.
• Subject Matter Expert for vendor relationships; proficient in SOPs, ICH, global regulations, ethics and compliance.
• Strong interpersonal, negotiation, communication, conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.
• Experience analyzing complex business problems and designing innovative solutions; ability to craft compelling business cases and influence vendor direction.
• Excellent cross-functional partnership skills and the ability to work across an organization to meet objectives and timelines.

Skills

• Strategic vendor management
• Governance and stakeholder management
• Vendor performance measurement and optimization
• Risk identification and mitigation
• Cross-functional leadership and collaboration
• Contracting and negotiation
• Change management and process improvement
• Communication and presentation to senior leadership

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred in relevant field.